Chris Hastings, chef-owner of Birmingham’s Hot and Hot Fish Club, has been named best chef in the South region by the prestigious James Beard Foundation.

"We live down South," Hastings said as he accepted the award. "We love what we do."

Hastings also expressed gratitude to the people of Birmingham and Alabama.

Hastings won the award, considered the Oscars of the food world, in a category that also included four New Orleans restaurants. This was the fifth time in six years that Hastings had been a finalist for best chef.

Chef-owner Frank Stitt's Highlands Bar and Grill was a finalist for most outstanding restaurant in the country, but Boulevard in San Francisco won that category. This was the fourth year in a row that Highlands had been a finalist for best restaurant.

The Beard Foundation awards are voted on by 400 journalists, educators and past award winners, according to James Beard Foundation website.